The Seine River as a symbol of Paris and all of France. Rivers in Paris

The total length is 776.6 km.
Drainage basin area - 79,000 km2
Height above sea level at the source - 446 meters above sea level
Average slope - 0.58 m / 1 km
Average water flow at the mouth – 563 m³/s

The Seine River is the fifth longest river in France . It is the largest river in northern France, flows entirely through the territory of France and is its symbolic river, due to the fact that many historical events are associated with it, especially from the life of the capital of France - the city of Paris, which is located on the banks of the Seine.

The total length of the Seine is 776.6 km. , the area of ​​the river basin is 79 thousand sq. km. Seine originates in the Langres plateau, near the sources of the Meuse and Marne rivers, at an altitude of 446 meters above sea level, in the northwest of Seine-Saint-l'Abbey. Average slope of the Seine channel is only 0.57 m per 1 km. length of the riverbed.

The name "Seine" comes from the Latin word Sequana, which, according to a common version, means "sacred river". There is a version that the name Sicauna is related to the name of the Saône River (France). Some scholars have hypothesized that Sequana is a Latinized version of the Gaulish Issicauna Lower-Icauna, the Gaulish name for a river. According to their assumption, the ancient Gauls considered the Seine to be a tributary of the Yonne, because. at the confluence of the Yonne and the Seine, the former is much larger.

In its lower reaches, in Normandy, the Seine was known as Rodo, or Roto. This is a Celtic name for the river, related to the name of the Rhone River. Both names are related to the name Rouen, which the Gauls called Rotomagos, which meant the plain of Roto.

The Seine is conventionally divided into five parts (from source downstream):

- Little Seine , from the source to Montero-Fol-Yonne (merger with);
- Haute Seine
- Parisian Seine ;
- Lower Seine , from Paris to Rouen;
- Seine of the sea , from Rouen to the English Channel.

Coming down from the plateau Seine It carries its waters across the Paris Basin mainly from the southeast to the northwest. The upper course of the Seine River crosses the Chatillon plateau. Here the river's descent becomes weak. The river then crosses the Tonneroi bank, the Barrois bank. Flowing into Champagne beyond Bar-sur-Seine, near Troyes, the Seine forms numerous branches.

Given enough calm nature of the flow of the Seine River (the average slope is only 0.58 m per 1 km) - this is one of the most convenient rivers in Europe for navigation. Navigation on the Seine carried out over the last more than 500 km.

The Seine flows into the English Channel , through the creek de Rouen, near the city of Le Havre, where the width of the channel is about 800 meters, and Seine water flow here it is about 563 cubic meters per second.

The Seine is the most famous river in France , largely due to the fact that the capital of France, Paris, is located on its banks, within which there are 37 bridges across the Seine. Most of them go far back into the history of Medieval Europe. The most striking examples of such bridges are the Louis-Philippe Bridge and the Pont Neuf (built in 1607). In addition, approximately 30% of the French population currently lives in the Seine drainage basin. This is the most densely populated region of the country.

Interesting historical facts about the Seine:

According to legend, after Joan of Arc was burned on fire in 1431, her ashes were scattered over the Seine;
- Napoleon I Bonaparte, who died in 1821, wanted to be buried on the banks of the Seine, but his will was not fulfilled;
- In January 1910, the water level in the Seine rose 6 m above normal, flooding almost the entire city. According to historical records, the Great Paris Flood of 1910 was the worst the city had seen since 1658, when water levels were several centimeters higher. By the way, so far no such grandiose floods have been observed in Paris;
- The Seine River was one of the main goals that were set when achieving Operation Overlord in 1944;
- In 1991, the banks of the Seine River in Paris - Rive Gauche and Rive Droite were added by UNESCO to the list of world heritage sites in Europe;
- The Seine was a popular place for suicides and criminals who dumped the bodies of their victims here. In 2007, 55 corpses were recovered from the river; in February 2008, the body of supermodel Katoucha Nian was recovered from the same place.

More information about the rivers of France:

Despite the fact that in the Seine basin There is a relatively stable level of precipitation throughout the year - floods also occur here. There are two types of water overflow from the banks of the Seine : flash floods that occur after heavy rainfall in the "upper" Seine basin, and long-lasting floods in the Seine valleys further downstream that occur after long periods of rain.

Flood period in the Seine basin It happens mainly at the end of winter, when the fallen snow begins to melt at a rapid pace and heavy rains begin to fall. In this case, the level of the Seine and its tributaries increases noticeably, and the total volume of water in its channel increases several times. For example, average water flow in the riverbed of the Seine in the Paris region it is 328 m3/s, but during periods of major floods this figure increases several times - up to 1,600 m3/s.

Stormy rapids in the upper reaches of the Seine

Given the relatively small slope of the river, an increase in its level by several meters immediately affects the state of water levels in the tributaries of the Seine. This is primarily reflected in large tributaries Seine , which flow into it in the lower and middle reaches: Oise, Er, Marne. This pattern does not occur in the upper tributaries of the Seine. An inverse relationship is observed here, when a sharp increase in water in the tributaries (, Ob, etc.) entails an increase in the water level in the Seine.

To regulate the water level in the Seine basin , as well as to minimize the possible adverse consequences of floods, in the period from 1960 to 1990, four large reservoirs were built on the Seine and its tributaries on the Seine (Lake Orien), on the Marne (Lake Der Chantecoq), on the Aube (Lake Amance and reservoir du Temple), on the Yonne (Lake Panaciere). These lakes, which together have water reserves of more than 800 million cubic meters, make it possible not only to prevent sudden floods and floods in the Seine basin, but also to ensure in this case a minimum low water flow, which contributes to flood management.

Hydrological data of water flow in the Seine (hydrological station H7900010 in Poissy at an altitude of 17 m above sea level) for the period 1975-2010.

Seine River Basin , with an area of ​​79,000 km2, lies almost entirely within the Paris Basin, which geologically represents an accumulation of sedimentary rocks from an ancient sea. The relief in the Seine basin usually does not rise above 300 meters above sea level, with the exception of its southeastern edge, where the Morvan massif rises (up to 900 meters). Low average height over entire area Seine catchment explains the slight gradient of rivers (0.01 to 0.03 m per 100 m) that flow west through the eastern part of the Paris Basin.

Hydrographic points delimiting the Seine catchment boundary :

A point on the Langres plateau in the commune of Val-de-Meuse (47°56"29 N, 5°30"20 E, altitude: 453 m) south of the remains of the Roman road Bourbonne-les-Bains, - delimits the Seine basin from the Rhone (Saone River) and Meuse basin;

Point in Cote d'Or in the city of Meilly-sur-Rouvre (water tower on the Vachère city road (47 ° 12 "16 N, 4 ° 33 "07" E, altitude: 440 m above level sea) - delimits the Seine basin from the Rhone-et-Loire basin.

When approaching the territory of the Ile-de-France region, Seine merges with the Aube tributary in the north of Romilly-sur-Seine. After merging with The Seine becomes a great navigable artery . Below it receives the waters of such large tributaries as the Aisne (355.9 km), Marne (514 km), Oise (341.1 km), as well as several dozen smaller rivers and rivulets. In Paris, the Seine merges with the tributaries Essonne, Orge, Yerres, and Marne (near Paris).

MAIN RIBUTARIES OF THE SEINE

Upper Seine is a section of the river from its source to its confluence in the commune of Montreau-Fault-Yonne.

Located in the commune of Source-Seine, on the Langres plateau, at an altitude of 446 meters above sea level. Previously, since 1864, the territory source of the Seine was owned by the city of Paris. In 1865, an artificial cave was built here, through which the source of the river was directed, and a statue of a nymph symbolizing the river was erected near the cave. However, over time, the capital lost interest in the area, and the site was returned to the jurisdiction of the Burgundy region.

Already 2 km from the source, on the Seine, which in this place is a small stream, there is a small reservoir - the Grillande pond (Étang de Grillande). The same pond (Chateau Pond (Étang du Chateau)) is equipped with a dam another 7.5 km along the Seine. Here, in the upper reaches, the Seine heads almost strictly in a northerly direction. On the way to the town of Châtillon-sur-Seine, it receives the waters of several small rivers and streams. The largest of them are the right tributaries Verreri, Revenson, Brevon. In Châtillon-sur-Seine the Seine already takes on the characteristics of a river. Here, full-fledged bridges are thrown across it, and the riverbed in some places is reinforced with concrete structures.

Below Chatillon-sur-Seine, slope of the Seine falls significantly, and the river, having entered the plain of the Paris Basin, begins to periodically divide into several branches. Due to the flat topography with a uniform base of sedimentary rocks, the Seine practically does not change direction, only slightly moving to the northwest. Near the commune of Merrey-sur-Arce, the Seine receives the waters of the first fairly large tributary - the Ours River, the length of which reaches almost 100 km (99.9).

From the commune of Bourguignons The Seine finally takes a northwest direction and over the next 100 km, up to the city of Marcilly-sur-Seine, it does not change. Here the Seine receives another large right tributary - the Aube River (length 248 km, basin area 3,600 km2), which almost doubles the size of the Seine and its water flow.

After Marcilla-sur-Seine, the Seine sharply changes direction to the west, and then to the southwest. After 70 km. your way in this direction, near the town of Montreau-Fault-Yonne, The Seine meets the main left tributary - the river (292.3 km, basin area - 10,836 km2). Confluence of the Seine and the Yonne doubles its size. sometimes it can even be considered the main river, and the Seine its tributary, given the seasonal fluctuations in their flow.

According to generally accepted practice, when rivers merge, the stream that has the highest annual flow of water at the confluence gives its name to the second stream. According to this definition, the Seine would become a tributary, and not vice versa, because at their confluence at Montreaux-Fot-Yonne, the Yonne has a water flow of 93 m3/s with a drainage basin of over 10,800 km2, while The hay has a water flow in the area of ​​80 m3/s and a catchment area of ​​10,300 km2. The same situation occurs upstream of the Seine, at its confluence with the Aube River. The area of ​​the Aube River basin is 4,700 km2, and the water flow at its confluence with the Seine is 41 m3/s, while the area of ​​the Seine basin at this point does not exceed 4,000 km2, with a water flow of only 33 m3/s . After merger with Sena takes on the features of a large full-flowing river with a channel width of over 100 meters and passes into the “middle current”.

More about Sena:

Middle Seine runs on the section from the city of Montreaux-Fot-Yon to Paris. In this area, the Seine is a navigable river, capable of supporting the navigation of small passenger and cargo ships.

Almost immediately outside the town of Montreaux-Fot-Yon The Seine takes a northwest direction and after 35 km. comes to the city of Melun. Here, three bridges were built on the Seine, and on the shore of the island there was a pier for servicing transport ships. To ensure navigation on the Seine in the middle reaches, several locks are equipped. The first of them is found in the commune of Maison Rouge. Then, downstream, the same locks are equipped in several more places (Champagne-sur-Seine, La Cavé, Boissise-le-Roi, La Demi- Lune (La Demi-Lune), Evry (Évry), etc.).

Seine in the suburbs of Paris

In the suburbs of Paris, Ivry-sur-Seine The Seine receives the waters of a large right tributary - the Marne River (514 km, basin area - 12,920 km2). Here, the width of the Seine channel reaches 150-160 meters, and the banks are dotted with berths for civilian ships and concrete fortifications, in order to prevent the Seine from uncontrolled spilling and overflowing its banks.

In the Seine area of ​​Paris starts to loop. Having a general course to the north-west, the river carved its bed along a very intricate trajectory, describing circles with a diameter of up to 5 km.

Section of the Seine within Paris - the most navigable based on the number of ships passing along the river per unit of time. In addition to transport ships and barges, regular passenger ships and pleasure ships ply here. The entire embankment of the Seine here is a concrete pier.

Below Paris, a few kilometers downstream, The Seine receives the waters of the right tributary - the Oise River (length - 341 km, basin area 16,667 km2). After the Oise flows into the Seine, the channel of the latter reaches a width of about 215 m, and the Seine enters the “lower flow” stage.

After the right tributary, the Oise River, flows into the Seine, Seine enters the last sub-watershed and becomes lower Seine .

Here Seine continues its direction to the northwest along a winding channel with a slight slope. In this area, the Seine acts as a major transport artery with the corresponding infrastructure. In many places on the banks of the lower Seine there are transport and cargo terminals to accommodate fairly large ships. Here, the channel of the Seine is constantly monitored and its proper depth is ensured for the passage of ships with increased displacement.

On the way to Rouen Sena accepts Another large right tributary is the Epte River (length 113 km), as a result of which the width of its channel near the city of Vernon reaches 220 meters. A little further downstream, the left tributary, the Er River, flows into the Seine (length - 228.7 km, basin area - 6,017 km).

In Rouen the Seine becomes accessible for navigation by large sea vessels, since measures are being taken to deepen its channel to 10 meters. Because of this, despite the constant arrival of new volumes of water with tributaries, the width of the Seine channel here remains virtually unchanged. In Rouen on the Seine, the terminals of the Grand Seaport are located, where sea vessels with a length of up to 280 m and a displacement of up to 150,000 tons enter.

The last 120 km. to the mouth - Seine passes with a very slight slope. The influence of sea tides is especially felt here. This section of the Seine is also called "Sea Seine" . Sea tides can raise the water level of the Seine up to where the River Eure flows into it. Until the 1960s, tidal surges of up to 4 m could be observed in this section of the Seine. However, this phenomenon has virtually disappeared as a result of changes made to the river (dredging, containment and modification of the estuary).

At the mouth of the Seine overflows, turning into a kind of narrow bay - the Rouen Creek (Crique de Rouen). The width of the Seine in the area of ​​the Normandy Bridge is about 1.4 km, and at the exit to the sea, near the city of Le Havre - 6.5 km.

In the river navigation service, the Seine is divided into several sections :

- Little Seine , from the source to Montero-Fol-Yonne (confluence with the Yonne);
- Haute Seine , from Montero-Fol-Yonne to Paris;
- Parisian Seine ;
- Lower Seine , from Paris to Rouen;
- Seine of the sea , from Rouen to the English Channel.

The Seine is navigable along much of its length . Responsibility for ensuring navigation on the Seine belongs to the Voies de France shipping service up to the Boieldieu bridge in Rouen, as well as to the navigation service on the Seine upstream from the commune d "Amfreville-sous-les-Monts. The activities of this navigation service of the Seine also extend to its main tributaries ( Oise, Marne,), and sometimes onto associated canals (the Haute-Seine canal in Mery-sur-Seine, for example). On the other hand, this does not include the Parisian canals (Canal de l'Ourcq, Canal Saint-Denis and Canal Saint-Denis). Martin), administered by the city of Paris.

Section of the Seine Marine , that is, from the mouth of the river to the Guillaume-les-Conquinteres bridge in Rouen, is accessible for navigation by ocean-going ships (up to 280 m in length and with a displacement of up to 150,000 tons). On this part of the river, about 120 km long, there are only three bridges (Pont de Normandy, Pont Tancarville and Pont Broughtonne), which provide a span height of over 50 meters from the water level of the Seine. The river bed here is constantly cleared to ensure the passage of ships with a draft of up to 10 meters. The port facilities on this section of the Seine are operated by the Grand Maritime Port of Rouen, which specializes in the transport of grain crops, fertilizers and petroleum products. The port infrastructure facilities are located along the river banks for 120 km from the Rouen agglomeration to Honfleur.

The navigation section of the "Lower Seine" from Rouen to Paris was already in use in the 19th century . During this period, it was actively developed to ensure adequate water levels and ensure the possibility of wide trade navigation up to the city of Paris. Seven sluice dams located in Poses-Amfreville-sous-les-Monts, Notre-Dame-de-la-Garenne, Eure department , Méricourt, Andrésy, Bougival, Chatou (Yvelines department) and Suresnes (Hauts-de-Seine department) allow navigation of self-propelled barges (with a carrying capacity of up to 350 tons), "self-propelled Freycinet boats" , up to 38.5 meters long, self-propelled river barges with a carrying capacity of 800 to 1350 tons of cargo, a length of 48 to 70 meters, columns of barges (with a total carrying capacity of 3,000 to 10,000 tons of cargo) and river vessels (with a carrying capacity of up to 4,000 tons) . These ships and barges transport, among other things, containers, cars, petroleum products, cement, etc.

Port facilities located on Seine in the Ile-de-France region, belong to Paris Autonomous Port , the first French river port. The main port facilities for cargo transport are located in Limay (Yvelines) and Gennevilles (Hauts-de-Seine). As part of the project in the city of Achères, Yvelines, the possibility of constructing a multimodal logistics complex combining waterway, highway and railway is being considered.

The "Paris Seine" is also characterized by wide river navigation . Passenger river transportation is developed here, mainly tourist (boat). Attempts are being made to organize regular daily passenger services (Batobus). River buses run regularly between the Eiffel Tower and the Jardin des Plantes; however, this service seems to have attracted more tourists than Parisians, creating awkward competition for the boats. Passenger service is also organized between the Austerlitz station and the commune of Maisons-Alfort on the Marne.

On the section of the Upper Seine A large-scale project for organizing river transport between the Seine and Scheldt basins was implemented. By widening the Canal Saint-Quentin, built in 1810, and the Canal du Nord, 1960, the river ports of Normandy and Ile-de-France were connected to the navigable river network of northern France and Benelux countries, ensuring the passage of vessels with a carrying capacity of class Vb (displacement 3,200 - 6,000 tons).

"Little Seine" not suitable for navigation.

More details:

(Seine) is 776 km long, originating in the east of France in the province of Burgundy (Bourgogne). Flowing through the northern French lowland (Paris Basin), it makes numerous winding turns in the Paris region. It flows into the English Channel bay near the city of Le Havre. Several tributaries flow into the Seine, the main ones: the right ones are the Marne, Aube and Oise, the left one is the Yonne. The water basin is mainly replenished by rain and from November to March the water rises.
The Seine has always been the soul and heart of Parisians, dating back to the time when the Celtic tribes of the Parisians (the name of the capital of France is derived from the tribe) founded fishing villages along the banks of the river in the middle of the 3rd century BC.
The Seine is a large shipping route; the main ports of this waterway are Paris, Le Havre and Rouen. Many artificial canals connect the Seine with other rivers.

Today, the Seine is an important factor in the development of the city; unofficially it is considered the 21st arrondissement of Paris (there are 20 in total). It is believed that the capital of France is divided into two parts: the right bank of the river, where the trade and business part of the city is concentrated, and the left bank with its cultural and educational life.

Right bank of the Seine River.

On the right bank is the world famous Louvre with a complex of art museums. Architectural structures in, the triumphal arch of the Carousel, an obelisk from ancient Egypt on the Place de la Concorde. There, on the Place de l'Etoile, Napoleon's dream, which he never saw. For opera lovers, on the right bank, the famous "" is located, and those who want to watch the famous cancan are welcome at the "Moulin Rouge".

In 1875, the first stone was laid for the Catholic Church of Sacré-Kerre (Basilica of the Sacred Heart), which is located on Montmartre hill. Here on the hill the events from the film “Amelie”, filmed in 2001, took place, thanks to which this place became even more popular among Parisians.

Left bank of the Seine River.

If you follow the flow of the Seine River, then on the left side you will see the icon of Paris - the Eiffel Tower, erected on. Further east is the Les Invalides, where the remains of Napoleon are located. Brilliant in, where the Senate is now located. Here, on the left bank, there are many educational institutions and colleges, the ancestors of the modern Sorbonne, the largest university center in the world. Cozy boulevards Saint-Michel and Saint-Germain. In the building of the former railway station, you will see masterpieces of world art: paintings, engravings, sculptures, furniture... Along the way, other equally famous sights of Paris await you.

Do you know that the left bank in Paris is not only a geographical concept?! This is also a lifestyle, an individual way of dressing and a special appearance. In the past, the quarters on the left bank of the Seine were the quarters of intellectuals, artists, writers, so to speak, Parisian bohemians, who had this special style. Today they are called “bobos” from the expression bourgeois-boheme.

Bridges on the Seine River.

In the center of Paris, the river forms the large island of Cite (Ile de la Cite) - while sailing along the Seine River, you will notice many bridges connecting the right and left banks of the river. Some of them are many centuries old, such as the New Bridge (Pont-Neuf), the first stone of which was laid by Henry III in 1578, it is considered the most romantic bridge. The famous Pont Saint-Louis bridge connects the two surviving islands of the Seine: Ile Saint-Louis and Cité. While traveling along the river, you can admire other bridges: the cradle of the French capital, which is of the greatest interest. It is here that there are such unsurpassed architectural monuments as Notre Dame de Paris - the spiritual heart of Paris, the Sainte Chapelle - a delightful pearl of Gothic architecture and the gloomy building (La Conciergerie), a formidable medieval castle.

— Pont au Change. Arch Bridge (130 meters), which got its name because of the many money changers’ shops that were located in houses until 1788.

— Notre Dame Bridge (Pont Notre-Dame), the oldest bridge in Paris (105 meters), is located in the same place as in ancient times. Due to the constant collision of barges with the bridge, it was popularly called the Devil's Bridge.

— Small Bridge (Petit Pont), connecting the left bank of the Seine River with the Ile de la Cité. It is the shortest (32 meters)

— The Saint-Michel Bridge connects Place Saint-Michel with the Ile de la Cité, named after the nearby chapel of the same name.

I must also mention the longest suspension bridge in the world - the Normandy Bridge (2350 meters). It is located at the mouth of the Seine River, where it flows into the strait between France and Great Britain (the English Channel).

The Seine River today.

Today the Seine River lives its own life, it also has its own fans who constantly gather for various events. Concerts of jazz and classical music, festivals, theatrical performances, performances for children, discos.
About 150 yachts, boats, barges, small ships are moored here, where people live all the time! The famous bateaux-mouches river steamers scurry back and forth from their sides, and you will admire the river scenery while having lunch or dinner.

After World War II, cruise ships, which were actually ordinary bateaux-mouches river barges, became very popular. Immediately after the war, they were converted into tourist ships and now millions of passengers can enjoy magnificent views from the main waterway of Paris. The fleet of the oldest river cruise company, Bateaux-Mouches, consists of 14 ships, 9 of which are pleasure ships, and 5 are intended for longer cruises. A huge number of tourists use the services of this company, so currently the name bateaux-mouches is synonymous with a tour along the Seine River.

You can go at any time convenient for you, Paris is always beautiful and romantic! Personalized music, fine wines, skipper services and attentive staff are always at your service. The peculiarity of a cruise on the Seine River is enormous comfort, high level of service, safety and chic!
The river flow is not fast, so the journey will be very pleasant, exciting and measured.

The waters of the Seine River, the largest cruising river in France, have seen a lot. Great kings with their numerous retinues, the construction of world-famous buildings and structures, historical and cultural monuments telling about the glorious past of France. And to this day, she is a silent contemplator of everything that happens to the right and left of her.

Walking around Paris, any tourist will one day come across a place where he has a magnificent view of the river, one of the largest in France. This Seine - river in Paris, which became the heart and soul of the city. The embankments of the Seine have inspired artists, poets and delighted romantic tourists for many centuries.

The length of the river is 776 km. It begins in Burgundy, the eastern region of France, and ends near the city of Le Havre, located in the northern part of the country in Upper Normandy. Look at a map of France and you can see the location of the Seine on it.

Seine - river in Paris

In ancient times, according to surviving Roman sources, the name of the river sounded like Sequana. Historians suggest that the name comes from Celtic and means “sacred river.” Back in the 3rd century BC, Celtic tribes began to settle on the picturesque plains near the Seine. These places attracted ancient inhabitants not only with their beauty. The fertile lands made it possible to engage in agriculture, and the calm nature of the wide river allowed the development of fishing. One of these tribes that liked Seine river, settled on its shores - the Parisians, gave the name to modern Paris.

To date Seine is the largest transport artery in France and plays a significant role in the development of industry, agriculture and tourism. This is what caused water pollution and led to the death of river fauna. A number of measures taken by the French government in recent decades have had a significant impact on the improvement of the environmental situation and the partial restoration of the fauna, as evidenced by the return of Atlantic salmon to the waters of the Seine.

While in Paris, you should definitely take a short trip on a river boat. Such walk along the Seine in Paris will reveal almost the entire city to you and give you a lot of impressions. You can take a break from the bustle of the city, enjoying magnificent views and the coolness coming from the water. One of the piers from which you can get on a pleasure boat is located right next to the Jena Bridge.

The Seine is a river in Paris. Pier at Jena Bridge

You will have to pay a few euros for such a walk, but we are sure that the impressions gained from it will be worth it. We're sure you'll like it boat on the Seine Paris.

Now, let's get acquainted with the beautiful city bridge, which we have already mentioned.

The Seine is a river in Paris. Jena Bridge

Now we will talk about the Jena Bridge, which offers a magnificent view of the Eiffel Tower. Millions of tourists have visited this bridge, admiring the symbol of Paris. The bridge has a complicated history, and there was a moment when it was almost destroyed.

Napoleon ordered the construction of a bridge overlooking the Champs de Mars. And in 1807 Seine river in Paris was blocked by a shipping bridge. There were many proposals about what name it would bear, for example “Bridge of the Champs de Mars” or “Bridge of the Military School”. But the emperor rejected all names and proposed his own: “Bridge of Jena,” in honor of the brilliant victory of the French army over Prussia at Jena, which took place in 1806. The great commander loved to remember the day of the battle and claimed that it was the best of his life.

Construction of the bridge lasted from 1808 to 1814. The state allocated huge funds for its construction. By the time construction was completed, allied forces had already entered Paris under the leadership of the Russian emperor and the Prussian king, who did not like the bridge, named after the shameful battle for Prussia. General Blucher, who personally took part in that battle, planned to blow it up.

According to one legend, Russian Emperor Alexander I spoke out in defense of the bridge; according to another, Louis XVIII said that if the bridge was blown up, it would only be with him. But be that as it may, the Jena Bridge remained standing in its place. It was simply renamed, and the proud imperial eagles that adorned the inside of the gables were replaced with the royal letters "L".

After a short period of time, in 1830, the bridge was returned to its original name, and in 1852 the eagles again took their place, thanks to Napoleon III, the nephew of the Great Commander. You can look at an old photograph of the Jena Bridge and be able to see it as the city's inhabitants saw it at the end of the 19th century.

Paris river Seine. Jena Bridge 19th century

On four sides of the Jena Bridge in 1853, four sculptures of dismounted horsemen were installed on powerful pylons. All of them were made by different sculptors, and depict Roman, Greek, Gallic and Arab warriors. The sculptures look quite monumental. Take a look at the photographs of the sculptures.

Seine Paris - sculptures